Improvement in shoe-fastenings



W. 0. EGAN. Shoe-Pastenings.

No. 218,507. Patented Aug. 12,1879.

WITNESS N- FETENQ. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D G.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. EGAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOE-FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,507, dated August 12, 1879 application filed June 10, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. EGAN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented new and Improved Shoe-Fastenings, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to furnish improved means for fastening ladies and childrens shoes, whereby the trouble and annoyance resulting from the use of buttons, lacin gs, or other devices heretofore made use of shall be avoided and the appearance of the shoe improved.

My invention consists in providing a shoe with elastic insertion and alternating scalloped edges, as hereinafter described.

The invention is shown by the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of shoe fitted with my improved fastenings, and showing the same as partly laced. Fig. 2 is a section, in enlarged size, on linen; a: of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The shoe A is formed with the opening mat the side; and instead of being formed with a flap, as usual, the edges of the leather at the opening come together when the shoe is fastened, and the edges are scalloped or pointed, so that one edge matches into the other. At opposite sides of the opening a the studs b are attached upon the alternate points, so that when the edges touch the studs are in line with each other. These studs consist of a flat disk or head made from metal, rubber, ivory, or similar material, and with a tubular shank portion, that is inserted through a hole previously made in the leather, and then upset or piveted down at the back, whereby the stud is held securely, so that it cannot pull out. An under flap, c, is attached on one side, which covers the riveted ends of the studs.

The side piece of the shoe has its edge portion, to which the studs are attached, made as a separate piece, connected with the main portion by a strip, 0, of elastic fabric, that is placed at the inside, as shown in Fig. 2, and connected by stitching, thereby forming an elastic joint, that gives to the motion of walking, and also permits the studs to be drawn up fully to place when the swell of the wearers ankle and instep is above the average.

The lacing f is made use of for drawing up the shoe and closing the opening. This is attached by one end to the bottom stud, b, and in use is passed across from side to. side beneath the heads of the studs, and fastened at the top in any desired manner.

By these fastenings the shoe may be readily and quickly laced without requiring the use of a hook, and without the annoyance of the studs pulling out. When fastened the studs present an ornamental appearance far superior to buttons or ordinary lacings, and no changing of the fastenings is required to make the shoe fit snugly. This construction saves the leather required for the usual flap and the labor of sewing button-holes.

The fastenings are equally useful when applied to a shoe having a front opening.

Having thus described myinvcntion, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The shoe A, having alternately-scalloped side pieces arranged on the edges of its opening a, and provided with studs 1) on the points thereof, one of the said side pieces being connected with the shoe by an inside elasticfabric, as shownand described.

WILLIAM G. EGAN.

Witnesses 0. SEDGWICK, GEo. D. WALKER. 

